Tell Me When To Go
E-40 Lyrics

Tell me when to go
E-40 and Keak Da Sneak are asking for a cue to begin whatever they have planned or are about to do.

Go [Dumb x8]
They want the crowd to get excited and go crazy while they perform.

Jesus Christ had dreads / So shake 'em
They are invoking a religious image and expressing the desire to move and dance wildly.

I ain't got none / But I'm planning on growing some
Although they don't have dreads themselves, they plan to grow them to fit the image they are portraying.

Imagine all the Hebrews going dumb / Dancing on top of chariots and turning tight one
They are painting a picture of the wild and exuberant celebration that can occur when people let loose and dance freely.

Ooh, tell me when to go / Talking on my ghettro on the way to the sto' / My 2nd or 3rd trip / Some Henny / Some Swishers / And some Listerine Strips / Dr. Greenthumb lift / Just to ease my thoughts
They are setting the scene of a night out, with specific details of their mode of transportation, what they've picked up along the way, and the use of marijuana to relax them.

Not just the cops / But the homies you got to watch / The moon is full / Look at the dark clouds
They are describing the dangerous and unpredictable nature of their environment, cautioning against not only the police but also other criminals and referring to their surroundings to emphasize the need for vigilance.

Sitting in my scraper / Watching Oakland go wild / Ta-dow!
They are observing the madness of their hometown of Oakland and expressing their excitement and enthusiasm for the scene.

I don't bump mainstream / I knock underground / All that other shit / Sugar-coated and watered down / I'm from the Bay where we hyphy and go dumb / From the soil where them rappers be getting they lingo from
They reject mainstream music and prefer underground or local sounds that they believe are more authentic and expressive. They take pride in their Bay Area roots.

I'm off that 18 purple juice / Like a man / Labeled the Black Zeus / King of the Super Duper (Hyphy x5) / And your wifey / She don't (Like me x5) / From the Bay to the A / Put me in the back wood / Swisha sweet buds / Go to the sto' / Bitches wish I wrote / I said they couldn't be saved by (John Doe x2)
They're talking about their drug use and status as a high-powered figure in the hip-hop scene, declaring that women are attracted to them but their honesty means they can't pretend to care about them. They shout out different cities and describe the weed they like to smoke and the rejection they've faced from women.

I slid past on the gas / Bitches looking at me / It's good x2 / Like the granddaddy / Cross game / You get flipped like a burger patty / Or zig-zagged / Pass me a big old fatty / I drink white with a snow bunny / Talking big shit in the scraper / Goin hella dummy / 1800 / Jose Cuervo / Yaddadamean / Know I'm saying, though?
They're driving fast and enjoying the attention they're getting from women. They reference different strains of weed and describe their preferred drink order, always emphasizing their Bay Area roots and pride in living a carefree life.

[x4] Ghost-ride the whip / [x8] Now Scrape / [x4] Put your stunnin' shades on / [x2] Now, gas, brake, dip, dip / [x4] Shake them dreads / [x4] Let me see you show ya grill / [x4] Now Thizz-Face / [x4] Doors open, man. / [x4] Now... Watch em swang
These lines refer to different dance moves popular in the Bay Area and urge the crowd to participate in them. They are giving instructions on how to get the party started.